Graduation was coming, and fast.

Brooks has been on the move constantly, trying to get things ordered and situated for when he finally graduates—which was in two weeks, now.

Which means Hayden also graduates in two weeks.

We haven't discussed him going to college again since last week. I mean, I think he should go. The rational part of me almost wants to push him to go, because he's got so much talent. But the naive, selfish part of me wants him to stay.

To see what our next move is, together.

But that's when reality slaps me in the face. Because there is no together after graduation. He moves on with life, and I'll be a distant memory to him.

As much as I hate to say it, the thought hurts. It hurts like hell.

But again, I broke my own rules. I can't be mad at anyone except myself. So I've been just cramming for finals, studying as much as I can. Avrey has been wanting me to go to some parties, but I haven't been feeling up to it. Using the studying excuse was becoming old, but really, I was too sad to party and celebrate life when a huge part of mine was coming to an end.

Yay me.

Avrey was talking about her new boyfriend, and I'm really happy she's found someone and she's excited. But I can't focus on anything right now. I just took a history test, but I even though I studied all night, I still couldn't remember half of what was on the study guide.

I was in shit. My grade is already a D in that class. I didn't need to keep failing tests, especially right before exam week.

"And he walked me to the door, kissed me goodnight. No pressure for sex. Honestly, it was really nice." She shuts her locker with a sigh.

"Oh, that's awesome, Av." I smile at her. "Really. I'm happy for you."

She grins, looking down the hall. Her smile slowly falters, so I turn to see Brooks and Hayden walking our way. I smile at Brooks, but I really wanna look at Hayden.

"Hey baby sister," he greets.

"Big brother." I smile, then finally look at Hayden. "You."

He grins, shaking his head. I turn back to Brooks. "Brooks, can you get me a burger and a shake for lunch today?" I pout. "I could really use some comfort food."

"Comfort food?"

"Yeah," I whine. "Please?"

Hayden is grinning, staring at me. Brooks just sighs, lifting up his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess."

I clasp my hands together. "Yay! Thank you." The bell rings, making everyone look up. "You know where I'll be."

He smiles and nods, and we all go our own way. I purposely push past Hayden, letting his hand graze my thigh. I shiver, but keep going.

I survived through the physics class I had—somehow—and when lunch time came around, I was sitting with Avrey until Brooks and Hayden came back with my lunch, and apparently lunch for them, too.

Brooks was talking to Hayden about graduation, and in hopes to drown out the reality of the situation, I started talking to Avrey, even bringing up the party her new boyfriend, Landon, invited her to tomorrow.

"It's one of his friends parties," she pushes her hair over her shoulder. "But said I can invite who I want."

I sigh. "I'm down; I've been studying too much and for what?" I snort. "I'll go."

Avrey claps her hands together in excitement. "I can't wait for you to meet Landon. He's almost too good to be true."

"Who is?" Brooks asks, looking interested in our conversation.

"My new...boyfriend?" Avrey shrugs. "We've been on a couple dates. He hasn't officially asked yet, but I'm not opposed to it."

Brooks looks away, nodding his head. Hayden's eyes are on me, scanning my face. Then he says, "there's a party?"

"Yep. You two can come, I guess. Just behave, private school kids are uppity and I don't want his friends judging me because of you."

Hayden smirks. "I'm always on my best behavior."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't sleep with some desperate, clingy girl there. For my sake."

The comment was a joke. But fuck, I felt a stab in my chest and fire run through my blood, as if he had actually done something wrong.

"Good luck with that," I say, jaw clenched.

Hayden looks at me, eyes narrowing. I huff a breath, not even able to finish my fries. Just the thought of another girl with Hayden makes me sick. I don't want to imagine when he goes off to college...or whatever it is he's doing after graduation.

Which is two weeks away.

When the dismissal bell rang, I was quick on my feet. I said a hasty goodbye to everyone, not waiting to walk with anyone. I push my way to Waters class and take my seat. I don't meet Hayden's eyes when he strides in. When I see Collin walk in, I roll my eyes and look away.

Still can't stand this fucker.

"Lina." Collin says with a creepy smile.

"Fuck off."

This has been a new thing he started, trying to get a rise out of me. Just two more weeks and he'll be gone. I can handle that.

Can you handle Hayden being gone?

I roll my eyes at myself, paying attention to Waters as he comes in and takes attendance. Since there's only two weeks left, he's giving us this last week to prep and be ready to submit in class. Meaning that he takes us to the library and lets us venture on our own.

Once he dismissed us for work, students went about their normal business. As for me, I didn't have a book with me to read and pass the time. So I got up and started walking down towards the fiction side, eyes scanning the spines of books to see which I wanted to start reading.

If it's good by the time class ends, I'll buy it and finish it myself.

I was eyeing a peach book, reading It's Not Summer Without You. I turn it over to read the back when an arm wraps around my chest, and I start to fight.

My breath immediately caught in my throat, turning to try and fight whoever it was off, my adrenaline already kicking in.

But when Hayden steps back, arms raised in defense, I let go of a breath and place a hand over my heart.

"Fuck, Hayden. You can't just sneak up on people like that."

"I'm sorry," he says sincerely. "I didn't think."

I push my hand through my hair, taking a deep breath. I lean against the bookshelf, closing my eyes. Trying to calm my breathing and regulate my heartbeat.

"You okay?"

I open my eyes. "Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yes. You just scared me."

"I mean, in general. You seem a bit off today."

I let my head fall back against the shelf. Of course Hayden noticed that. He seems to notice just about anything with me.

"Yeah, just trying to study a lot for finals. Gotta try and pass with a decent grade."

Hayden mulls that over for a minute. "Wanna study with me tonight?"

I look back down at him. "You want to help me study?"

He shrugs. "Sure."

I don't wanna be home. And honestly, any time I can get with him before he graduates is a bonus for me. So that's how I find myself saying yes.

That's how I find myself telling Brooks I don't need a ride, I was riding with Avrey.

That's how I found myself asking Avrey to take me home, cause I wasn't feeling good.

And that's how I found myself an Uber, driving to his place.

His mom let me in with the warmest greeting, asking me if I was okay. I assured her I was, and that Hayden offered to help me study. She told me he was already upstairs, so I politely excused myself and found my way up the stairs to his room.

Only today, his room was dark.

Darker than normal, I guess I should say. The curtains were closed, blocking out the sun. My brows furrow together, seeing the bathroom door is closed, too. The room has almost no light, making my heart beat start to pick up.

I take a step backwards, looking around. "Hayden?"

Nothing.

Heck no. I'm out of here.

I turn to pull the door open, but it's locked. I huff a breath, starting to turn the lock when I felt someone press against me from behind.

Then my heart started to beat really fast.

Until I heard Hayden talk. "Do you trust me?"

I pause, relaxing into him. I nod gently. "Yes."

"Good," he kisses my temple. "I want to try something."

And just like that, his body was gone. I turn quickly, but it's hard to see anything in the darkness. I step forward, looking around. But I can't see him at all.

Then I feel him, his fingers gently brushing down my arms. I try to turn to him, but again, he's gone. I frown, crossing my arms.

"This isn't fair."

Then arms wrap around me, pinning me to his body. My immediate reaction is to fight, which I almost do. But I relax when he lowers his mouth to my ear, kissing tenderly.

"You can't see me coming, or you won't react normally. Just trust me."

I nod weakly, Hayden letting me go. I inhale and close my eyes, bracing for his next move, totally not expecting it to be his hand cupping my cheek and bringing his lips to my forehead. That made my stomach flip as he lets me go again.

I smile at his next touch, wrapping his arms around me again from behind, kissing my neck. I tilt my head to give him more access and I feel his chuckle against my skin. He kisses me again and lets go.

When he guided me forward, I didn't question it. I waited for the next move—only, what I wasn't expecting was for him to guide my chest down onto the bed, my ass in the air.

Then the panic started setting in. I pressed my palms against the bed, breathing heavily.

"Hayden, no."

He immediately listened, letting go of his hold on me. I stand up straight, clearing my throat. Tears sprung to my eyes, so I'm quick to wipe them away. But Hayden places his hand over mine, stopping me.

"I'm sorry," he leans down, his breath fanning my face. "I just want to show you that you can trust me. That I'm not gonna hurt you. You don't have to be afraid with me."

My heart was a goner. I was so fucking in love with him, I didn't have words. I wrap my arms around his neck, nodding.

"I'm not afraid with you. Never."

"I'm sorry that he..." Hayden sighs, I feel it across my neck. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I smile. "You're not him."

Hayden slowly kisses my lips. I tangle my hand in his hair, keeping him in place, deepening the kiss. He groans, pulling me impossibly closer to his body. I push against him so his butt falls on the bed, then straddle him.

I tug his hair, tilting his head back. I press my lips back against his in such urgency, such need. Such love.

The fact that he thought of this? Trying to get me comfortable with him coming up behind me, or being pinned down on the bed is the most thoughtful thing anyone could've ever done.

Yeah, I'm not ready yet. But the fact that he's trying? It's more than I could ever ask of anyone, especially him.

The desperation is seeping through my actions as I'm clawing at Hayden's shirt, then yanking his zipper open. We're both breathing heavy against each other's mouth as he helps me push down his pants and boxers just enough to free him, then he does the same for me.

He kisses my neck as he pushes my shorts and underwear to the side, and even in the dark, is able to line himself up perfectly to my entrance.

I dig my nails into his neck as I sink down on him. I have to adjust, just like the first time we did this. I breathe heavily into his mouth, moving down more of his shaft.

I can't help but moan at the feel of him filling me completely.

"That's right, baby," he grunts, thrusting upwards and filling me the rest of the way, making a sharp cry come from my throat. "Feel how fucking perfect we are together."

I moan again, because he's right. It's always felt right, felt good together. Like my body was crafted specifically for his.

I lift myself up, then fall back down his cock. Hayden moans, digging his nails into my hips.

"More, Lina." Hayden begs. "Give me all of you."

Something about those words stirred something deep in me. And I just let go.

I thrust and rock my hips against him, riding him like I never have before. To anyone. Ever. I throw my hair over to one shoulder, my movements going faster and faster.

"That's it, Lina," Hayden moans. "Let yourself go. I'm right here to catch you."

With a cry and final thrust, I came hard. I could barely breathe, the pleasure and bliss too much, too good. The love I feel for Hayden unbearable.

Hayden gently flips us, hovering over me. My eyes have adjusted to the little bit of light the room offers, and I can see his sweaty forehead, his damp hair. I push my hands through it as Hayden starts moving faster in me, still chasing his high.

He kisses my mouth eagerly. I wrap my legs around him, pressing him closer to me. He lifts my hips up, and that with the feeling of my panties rubbing against me while he thrusts has my stomach clenching again.

"Hayden." I moan, throwing my head back.

"I'm right here, baby."

"It's so good," I gasp, pulling at his hair.

"I know. I know."

His thrusts got sloppier and sloppier as he got closer to his release. He kisses my mouth, my cheek, my nose. I'm lost in all things Hayden as I feel myself ready to free fall into him again.

"Hayden?"

"Yeah?" He grunts.

"I'm," I moan. "I-I—"

"Shh," he kisses my mouth. "Me, too. Come for me, Lina. Just for me."

With that, Hayden slammed himself into me one last time, triggering both of our orgasms. Hayden goes limp, laying on top of me.

I wrap my arms around him, feeling the most content I have in a while. Cause I've made up my mind.

Even though it'll hurt, my time with Hayden was good. Amazing. I've never experienced this kind of love, or feeling wanted by someone.

I can't deny my love for him. But I won't regret it. If two weeks is all we got left, then I'm gonna make the most of it.

A/N

It came to my attention that What's Mine is actually nearing its end 🥹 there's just a bit more to go, then that's it. It's surreal to think that already!! I'm so excited to finish their story, work on Avrey and Brooks story, and of course, my new WIP that I'm so darn ready to share with you all! Ugh, too much excitement.

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33